Repti-Carpet only?

[Alexandra V]

I'm picking up my ball in about a week so I thought it'd be good to start setting up the tank to make sure the heat/humidity levels are right when we bring her home. I couldn't get the belly temperature up high enough with aspen bedding, so I decided to try repti-carpet. The repti-carpet was warm enough, but I wanted to know if it's alright to keep it with just the repti-carpet or if I should invest in another heat source and add aspen on top of it?

[stratus_020202]

I would personally use paper towels. Repti carpet is a breeding ground for bacteria, and is a pain to clean. White paper towels look good. And, you can even get the flower ones if you want. I've seen others use newspapers as well. Some balls will bury in their aspen to get closer to the heat.

You can also get a lamp to increase your temps, but it will dry out the air in the tank.

What are you measuring your heat with?

[2kdime]

Just go with newspaper

That repti carpet gets so nasty, loaded with bacteria.

[Alexandra V]

okay. I'm using an analog thermometer, one on the cool side and one on the warm side.

[Vypyrz]

Another reason, besides the fact that it is hard to clean, is if you put aspen on top of it, then aspen will stick to the fibers in the carpet and you will have one big mess when it comes time to remove it. I know this for a fact...

[snakesRkewl]

okay. I'm using an analog thermometer, one on the cool side and one on the warm side.

Analog thermometers are junk, you need an indoor/outdoor probed thermometer.
Analog thermometers are effected by the temperature of the glass which can be and usually is different than the ambient air temperature.
Also without a probed thermometer you can't know the temperature of the belly heat.

Better description of your set up is needed before anyone can really help.
Temps you get now
Type of heat your using
Size of enclosure
etc.
Pictures are especially helpful